Cold Boots by Simon Haynes

Author:Simon Haynes [Haynes, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: comedy novel, sci-fi, Humor, science fiction comedy, Series, Comedy, Science Fiction, Novel, Humour, scifi, spacejock
ISBN: 9781877034404
Publisher: Bowman Press
Published: 2019-09-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Tyanna was at the controls of the Scarecrow as it slipped into the Dolpeme system, where she guided it carefully towards her destination. She'd programmed the final jump short, so that her ship appeared at some distance from the planet, and after an initial burst from the engines to fire the ship in the right direction, the Scarecrow was now running silent.

Such stealth wasn't really necessary, since Tyanna had every right to visit the Dolpeme system, but she liked to cover her tracks as a matter of course. So, she did her best to stay off the radar by using planetary bodies, stray asteroids and even other ships' IDs for cover.

Halfway to the planet, her concentration was suddenly broken by a message indicator. Frowning, she eyed the blinking red light. Only a handful of people knew how to contact her, and right now she didn't want to speak to any of them. "Flick, who's calling?"

"It's your robot," said the computer. "Kim's calling you from Spacers' Guild HQ."

Tyanna hesitated. "I'm surprised at you."

"Me? Why?"

"Normally you knock Kim every chance you get. You know… 'That useless robot'. 'The wreck in the cupboard' and so on. And on."

"I will endeavour to do so in future," said the ship's computer.

Tyanna felt something was odd, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Instead, she put her finger on the comms button. "What is it, Kim?"

"Got some bloody great news for ya," said the robot, in his broad accent. "That goof Spacejock just got himself elected president of the Spacers' Guild, and he's given up the cargo business. Just told me to take his ship and earn a living."

Tyanna sat up straight. "Are you kidding?"

"Nope. Dead set." Kim hesitated. "He told me to hire a pilot. Want a job?"

"That's… unexpected." Tyanna was lost in thought. She didn't have to kill Big Bob, or steal Hal's ship, or blow up the Scarecrow. She could just swap to the Albion and take off with Kim! Then reality came rushing in like a deep, dark tide. Big Bob would track her down, and Hal's ship was useless for the sort of dirty work he'd want her to do. It would be like strolling through the seedier parts of town in a suit made from thousand-credit tiles, and it would make her the target of every thief, murderer and pirate for light years in every direction.

And then there was Hal's robot… that was still sitting in the locker at the back of the flight deck, a mute witness to her plans. If a half-decent tech got their hands on it, they'd find out what she'd planned, and she'd be packed off to some prison planet… where she'd be served up to Big Bob's people on a platter.

No, she needed to sort Big Bob out. She had to destroy Hal's robot. And the Scarecrow had to vanish. "Sorry, Kim. We're sticking to plan A. Grab the Albion, and we'll meet in orbit above Dolpeme."

A third voice broke in: Flick.

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